Getting ready to move from the 3/4 size rental my daughter is playing and purchasing a nice cello from a local craftsman who will also upgrade it first.
This fellow is internationally known so I trust him completely with the instrument. However, I’m having a hard time justifying such an expensive (at least it appears that way to me) bow at first, rather than upgrading down the road.
Any opinions?
Former violinist here. Bows, especially quality bows with horsehair instead of synthetic, are very expensive. Is she ready to go full-size? Is she committed to playing for several more years? If so, this may be an investment you wish to make. However, a less expensive (say $250) bow may be OK to start with, then upgrade later. Do NOT scrimp on the instrument purchase. It’s a genuine investment. A quality instrument will produce better sound, stay in tune better, resist warping, and will have greater resale value down the road.
If there’s any doubt that she might give up violin soon, start cheaper and move up if/as needed. That’s what my parents did for my (violin) bow when I ‘graduated’ to a full-size (We did spent a lot on the instrument - I’d been playing for ten years at that point and while we knew I might play a bit less in high school [this was when I was 13], I wasn’t going to just drop a habit I’d picked up when I was four).
Two tips: Even with a cheaper synthetic-hair bow, you can get much better sound quality if you spring for good strings and good rosin.
Er…I did in fact mean ‘cello’ in that first sentence. :smack:
What the others said. It’s a bit over-the-top to spend that on a bow at this stage, but don’t go for the cheapest option, either. And I’d always advise people to steer clear of synthetic hair, I’m really not a fan of it at all, and horsehair isn’t that costly.
NinjaChick is absolutely right that good strings make a huge difference - as does a high-quality well-fitted bridge and a well-adjusted soundpost.